4 Ways Leaders Can Stay Strong and Finish Well
Leader, can we celebrate you for a moment?
The grit and resilience you have shown to adapt and flex your methods of discipleship have further exemplified your passionate heart that yearns to reach kids with the gospel.
You’ve sacrificed your time, talents, and finances to engage each child in weekly discipleship.
You’ve learned new systems, listened to verses on video, and connected with your small groups through various platforms.
And though it seems like everything has changed, your dedication, passion, and love have remained unwavering.
As you close out your club year, here are four ways to stay strong and finish well!
1. Celebrate your kids (and families!)
Since you’ve been doing it all year, this will come easy for you! Drop off awards with a friendly porch visit. Make yard signs to celebrate their work. Give a shout out to each child during your awards video. Send an email to all your parents thanking them for their partnership in the discipleship of their child!
2. Thank your leaders
You’ve served faithfully alongside a team. Send a handwritten note of gratitude along with a gift card. Plan a gathering that adheres to your region’s social distance guidelines and invite a food truck! Make a phone call and let your team know just how thankful you are for their commitment.
3. Share stories
Whether your church is starting to meet again or you are still having church virtually, your community needs to see all that God has done! Stitch some of the videos you might have collected into one video that can be shared during your Sunday morning service. Ask your church leadership if you can highlight family interviews throughout the summer.
4. Be renewed
Take this summer as an opportunity to be refreshed and renewed. The kids you interact with each week see Jesus because of the way you spend time with Him in your own walk. We pray that you will continue to sit in His presence and refill your own soul as you anticipate pouring back into your kids in the fall!
Do you have other ideas? If so, please share them with us in the comments below. May God bless you in the coming weeks and months.
Melanie Hester is the Partner Communications Specialist at Awana. She grew up serving the church and finds it a privilege to continue doing that through both her career and as the 4’s and 5’s teacher at her local church. She has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and desires to always be in a learning mindset. She is a wife and mom, a lover of craft coffee, and an avid shopper at Trader Joe’s.
